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My 9/11 dog passed away |
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FORT WORTH, TX (USA)
I made the decision yesterday (Sunday, Jan 7th) to put Kinsey down. She was in a training accident at Disaster City. Kinsey fell 15 or 20 feet off the top of a training structure, landing on her back and breaking it. The vet at TX A&M told us recent studies of dogs with this type of fracture had had 0% success of ever walking again. If I had elected to try, it would have been for me, not for her. Even if she walked with minimal success, it would never give her any quality of life she deserved... The odds were she wouldn't walk at all. The decision was easy. The pain is hard. We as handlers are the most blessed group of human beings on the face of the earth. As I've often told my pet dog clients, "I'm a grown man and I get paid to play with dogs all day long! And... It doesn't get any better than that." |
"Kinsey" (1999-2007) was rescued from a shelter where she was facing euthanasia in 2000. Instead, she went to live with Bob Deeds of Texas Task Force One who trained her in search and rescue, and one year later she had earned her Type I-Advanced Disaster Dog certification. Her very first job was the World Trade Center. In the years that followed, she remained dedicated to search and rescue, being deployed to 7 federal disasters. Now she has gone on to her rewards. Says Bob, "When it was time, she kissed my hand, closed her eyes, and went to sleep. She didn't fight it. She was on to the next adventure." (Photo: Bud Force / TEEX) |
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These last few years have been a blast. She knew her job and I knew to trust her. She was the picture you find by the definition of a search and rescue dog in the dictionary. |
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There was a version of the "Rainbow Bridge" that came out after 911 about dogs greeting Fire Fighters and Police Officers that died at the World Trade Center, as they passed over the rainbow bridge. Well today, I hope they are there to return the favor. I pray they take good care of her. I was once asked by another handler, referring to Kinsey, "Do you know what you have, here?" I answered I was starting to understand. I didn't have a clue. I learned over time. I do know now. Love your dog, love what you do, and remember it can go away in a heartbeat. |
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She was my partner and friend. In New York, Kinsey was one of the recipients of the PDSA Dickin Medal for Gallantry (the highest gallantry award for animals in the world). Just this year, she got inducted into the Tarrant County Veterinary Medical Association "Hall of Fame". She remained brave to the end. When it was time, she kissed my hand, closed her eyes, and went to sleep. She didn't fight it. She was on to the next adventure.